United States HistoryThe Cold War Conflicts

The Cold War 1945-The Cold War 1945-19911991

Cold War Begins

– a non-military battle of diplomacy and propaganda between the United States and Soviet Union

– Lasted from 1945-1990– led to “hot” wars around globe

in Korea, Vietnam

- Many of the smaller wars were called proxy wars because the U.S. and U.S.S.R. never fought face to face

U.S. vs. USSR (Soviet Union)

U.S. U.S.S.RCapitalism CommunismPrivate property State ownsDemocratic Totalitarian

The Ideological StruggleThe Ideological Struggle

Soviet & Eastern Bloc

Nations[“Iron

Curtain”]

US & the Western

Democracies

GOAL spread world-wide Communism

GOAL “Containment” of Communism & the eventual collapse of the Communist

world.[George Kennan]

METHODOLOGIES:

Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]

Arms Race [nuclear escalation]

Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts of Third World peoples [Communist govt. & command economy vs. democratic

govt. & capitalist economy] “proxy wars”

Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]

The “Iron Curtain”The “Iron Curtain”

From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in From Stettin in the Balkans, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an the Adriatic, an iron curtain iron curtain has descended has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lies across the Continent. Behind that line lies the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern the ancient capitals of Central and Eastern

Europe.Europe. -- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946-- Sir Winston Churchill, 1946

FIGHTING COMMUNISM

CONTAINMENT POLICY: The U.S. would work to stop the spread of communism.1. Truman Doctrine2. Marshall Plan3. NATO and other alliances

4. The Truman Doctrine & Domino Theory

Truman Doctrine: U.S. would aid countries around the world who are fighting communism (like Greece and Turkey).

Domino Theory: If the U.S. doesn’t fight communism, then countries will fall to communism like dominos.

The ‘Truman Doctrine’• Truman had been horrified at the pre-

war Allied policy of appeasement and was determined to stand up to any Soviet intimidation.

The Truman Doctrine in March 1947 promised that the USA “would support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures”.

• Triggered by British inability to hold the line in Greece, it was followed by aid to Greece and Turkey, and also money to help capitalists to stop communists in Italy and France.

It signalled the end of “isolationst” policies.

The Marshall Plan 1948

• Plan to aid Europe—in ruins– Prevent countries from

falling to communists– Aid American business

• $17 billion to 16 countries in Europe (not Soviet Union)

The ‘Marshall Plan’

• The Marshall Plan offered huge sums to enable the economies of Europe to rebuild after World War II, and, by generating prosperity, to reject the appeal of Communism.

The Soviet Union (USSR) prevented Eastern European countries from receiving American money.

NATO vs. WARSAW PACTNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization:

defense alliance among U.S. and Europe against the Soviet Union. Still exists.

Warsaw Pact: Defense alliance among Soviet Union and its satellite governments in Eastern Europe.

NNorth orth AAtlantic tlantic TTreaty reaty OOrganization rganization (1949)(1949)

United StatesUnited States

BelgiumBelgium

BritainBritain

CanadaCanada

DenmarkDenmark

FranceFrance

IcelandIceland

ItalyItaly

LuxemburgLuxemburg

NetherlandsNetherlands

NorwayNorway

PortugalPortugal

1952: Greece & 1952: Greece & Turkey Turkey

1955: West 1955: West GermanyGermany

1983: Spain1983: Spain

Warsaw Pact (1955)Warsaw Pact (1955)

} U. S. S. R.U. S. S. R.

} AlbaniaAlbania

} BulgariaBulgaria

} CzechoslovakCzechoslovakiaia

} East East GermanyGermany

} HungaryHungary

} PolandPoland

} RumaniaRumania

Postwar GermanyPostwar Germany• Nuremburg Trials for war crimes• Divided into 4 zones:

– West Germany – U.S., Britain, and France

– East Germany- Soviets– Capitol city of Berlin divided into 4

zones (in East Germany)

• Berlin Airlift: In 1948-49, the U.S. and Europe flew food and supplies to save West Berlin, until Soviets reopened roads.

Improve your knowledge

• The Russians took very high casualties to capture Berlin in May 1945. They spent the early occupation trying to take over all zones of the city but were stopped by German democrats such as Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer. Reluctantly the Russians had to admit the Americans, French and British to their respective zones.

Iron CurtainIron Curtain – – A term used by A term used by

Winston Winston Churchill Churchill

to describe the to describe the separating of separating of

Those Those communistcommunist

lands of East lands of East Europe from Europe from

the the West. West.

Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49)Berlin Blockade & Airlift (1948-49)

Berlin• West Berlin, was an outpost of Western

democracy and economic success deep within the communist zone – like a capitalist island within communist East Germany

• The Berlin Blockade was an attempt to starve West Berlin into submitting [giving up] to the communists

• The Allied [western powers] airlift signalled the West’s determination to use all resources to defend Berlin.

It was felt by both sides that Berlin could act as the trigger for general war between capitalist and communist countries

Post War Japan:Post War Japan:

• U.S. occupied – under General MacArthur– New constitution – Democracy with Emperor as

figurehead– Rebuild economy– Abolished army and navy

• Tokyo trials convicted war criminals

The Red Scare

• Intense fear of Communists taking over U.S. – China became a Communist country in

1949.– Soviets developed an atomic bomb in

1949.– Rosenbergs convicted of selling atomic

secrets to Soviet Union. Executed 1953.

McCarthyism• In 1950, Republican Senator Joseph

McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed that he had “lists” of communists in the U.S. government.

• Falsely accused hundreds of people of being active Communists, ruining lives.

• When hearings were televised, people saw that McCarthy was wrongly accusing many people.

• Censured (punished) by Senate.

Korean War

[1950-1953]

Korean War[1950-1953]

Syngman Rhee

Kim Il-Sung

“Domino Theory”

• U.S. General Douglas MacArthur led the U.N. force, approximately 80% of which were U.S. soldiers.

MacArthur at Inch'on

landing

Korean War, 1950-53• Divided north and south at 38th

parallel at end of WWII.• In 1950, Communist North Korea

invaded South Korea. • The U.S. and United Nations,

aided the South; China aided the North Koreans.

• Treaty signed in 1953, keeping dividing line at 38th parallel (still today).

• 33,000 American soldiers died, 100,000 wounded.

The Shifting Map of Korea[1950-1953]

Ending the War:

• President Truman disagreed with MacArthur about attacking China.

• Gen. MacArthur wanted to attack China with support of Chinese nationalists.

• U.N. troops regained South Korea by March of 1951.

• Truman fired MacArthur for defying him by publicly taunting and threatening the Chinese.

• In July of 1953, the Korean War ended

Space Race

• Began when Soviets beat the U.S. into space– Soviet satellite Sputnik launched in

1957– Explorer I, the first U.S. satellite, was

launched in 1958.

• The National Defense Act of 1958 approved federal funding of education in math, science and foreign languages.

• Reforms in education –

The Arms Race:The Arms Race:A “Missile Gap?”A “Missile Gap?”

} The Soviet The Soviet Union Union

exploded its exploded its first A-bomb in first A-bomb in

1949.1949.

} Now there Now there were two were two nuclear nuclear

superpowers!superpowers!

Nuclear Arms Race• Hydrogen bomb

invented – both U.S. and Soviets had them

• 1,000 times more powerful than atomic bomb—vaporized an island.

• Dangers of fallout and radiation

• Many built bomb shelters!!

Improve your knowledge

• The nuclear bomb gave America a lead which was expected to last at least 5 years. The rapid Russian development of nuclear technology, helped by the work of the “atom spies” was a shock.

Significantly, Russia hurriedly declared war against Japan at the beginning of August 1945 and rushed to advance into Asia to stake out a position for the post-war settlement. This helped make both the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts more likely.

National Defense Budget [1940-1964]

Premier Nikita KhrushchevPremier Nikita Khrushchev

About the capitalist About the capitalist states, it doesn't states, it doesn't depend on you depend on you

whether we whether we (Soviet Union) exist.(Soviet Union) exist.If you don't like us, If you don't like us,

don't accept our don't accept our invitations, and don'tinvitations, and don't

invite us to come invite us to come to see you. Whether to see you. Whether

you like it our not, history is on you like it our not, history is on our side. our side. We will bury you. We will bury you. -- --

19561956

De-Stalinization De-Stalinization ProgramProgram

An Historic Irony: Sergei An Historic Irony: Sergei Khrushchev, American CitizenKhrushchev, American Citizen

Who buried who?Who buried who?

Mao’s Revolution: 1949Mao’s Revolution: 1949

Who lost China?Who lost China?

Growing Interest in China

Nationalists Led by Chiang Kai-shek

CommunistsLed by Mao Zedong

People’s Republic of China:• In the 1940’s, China was embroiled in a civil war.

• The U.S. gave the Chiang Kai-shek millions of dollars, but the communists won the war.

• China became a

communist country,

and Chiang

Kai-shek and his

forces fled to Taiwan.

Nixon-KhrushchevNixon-Khrushchev“Kitchen Debate”“Kitchen Debate”

(1959)(1959)

Cold War ---> Cold War --->

TensionsTensions

<--- Technology <--- Technology

& Affluence & Affluence

U-2 Spy Incident (1960)U-2 Spy Incident (1960)

Col. Francis Gary Col. Francis Gary Powers’ plane was Powers’ plane was

shot down over shot down over Soviet airspace.Soviet airspace.

Paris, 1961Paris, 1961

Khrushchev & JFK meet to discuss Berlin Khrushchev & JFK meet to discuss Berlin and nuclear proliferation. Khrushchev and nuclear proliferation. Khrushchev

thinks that JFK is young, inexperienced, thinks that JFK is young, inexperienced, and can be rolled.and can be rolled.

The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)

CheckpoinCheckpointt

CharlieCharlie

Ich bin ein Berliner!Ich bin ein Berliner! (1963)(1963)

President President Kennedy tells Kennedy tells Berliners that Berliners that

the West is the West is with them!with them!

Khruschev Embraces Castro,Khruschev Embraces Castro,19611961

Bay of Pigs Debacle (1961)Bay of Pigs Debacle (1961)

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

We went eyeball-to-eyeball with the We went eyeball-to-eyeball with the Russians, and the other man blinked!Russians, and the other man blinked!

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Vietnam War: 1965-1973Vietnam War: 1965-1973